Healthy Breakfast: In a Hurry

A healthy breakfast in a hurry may seem impossible. But, with a little thinking ahead, you can easily provide your family with a hearty, hurried breakfast that only takes a little bit of planning. Why is a healthy breakfast so important? A good breakfast is the fuel that gets you and your kid ready for the day. When kids eat breakfast they have more energy, make healthier eating choices throughout the day, and do better in school. Starting the day without breakfast can make kids irritable, restless, and tired. A healthy breakfast even in a hurry, is an important start to every kid’s day.

Grabbing an on-the-go breakfast through the fast food line, is the one thing you DON’T want to do. Many of these breakfasts have just as much calories and fat that your child will need for the WHOLE DAY! Stay out of that line and grab and go from your own kitchen. Here are some suggestions for a healthy breakfast:

Blend bananas, almond milk, syrup, cinnamon, and nutmeg until smooth. Pour into shallow dish. Apply the oil to the skillet, heat the skillet over medium-high heat. Soak bread slices in the milk/banana mixture. Transfer to the skillet and brown on both sides.

Making breakfast ahead of time is another strategy for avoiding the drive-thru line. Bake a big batch of muffins on Saturday and freeze them. The night before, you pull out the ones you need and let them defrost in the kitchen. Whala…a healthy, hearty breakfast you’ve made for your family. You can start the crock pot the night before with a hearty breakfast oatmeal that will be ready in the morning. Here are some recipes for breakfast that you can prepare ahead of time.

Slow cooker oatmeal Makes 4-5 servings

2 apples, peeled, cored, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

1 ½ cups almond milk

1 ½ cups water

1 cup uncooked steel-cut oats

2 tablespoons maple syrup

1 ½ tablespoons butter cut into pieces

½ teaspoon cinnamon

1 tablespoon ground flax seed

¼ teaspoon salt

Apply coconut oil to the crock pot. Add all ingredients to crock pot. Stir, cover, and cook on low for about 7 hours. Spoon oatmeal into bowls. Can top with additional milk, chopped nuts, or more fruit.

1 tsp cinnamon
1 cup of soy or almond milk
Mix all the above ingredients except for the milk. Once mixed thoroughly, add enough milk so the batter holds together but is not runny–just very moist. Fill baking papercups ¾ full. Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 30-45 minutes until top is crusty.

It doesn’t take a lot of work to start your child’s day with a great meal. You don’t have to spend a lot of money, time or calories to have a healthy breakfast. Just have a few ingredients available and plan ahead for a healthy breakfast – even in a hurry.